Motorcycle.com article - Living with the VFR

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/honda/living-with-the-vfr-1439.html

I am reading EVERYTHING I can to help me decide between a 5th and 6th gen, and I ran across this article which I hope you folks find worth a read.

One of these days I will make my final decision!!

 

Right on.. other than a 4th generation is even Better... LOL.

 

5th Generation

I'm picking up a gorgeous yellow 2000 this weekend. After I get some time in the saddle I'll put in my two cents worth. I had an '86 many moons ago and a '98 a few years back so I'm expecting the same kind of wonderful-ness.

By the way...Hi Everyone.

Yom

 

I just got a new 06. The engine has always interested me and
I am quite satisfied with it. I don't think of the bike as heavy
but I have had heavier bikes. It is built to do what it does, little
of this and a little of that. And it does it very well.

 

There's a guy who is currently in the process of making a bolt-on supercharger kit for the 5th Gens. Not to try and sway your decision at all. I love my 4th Gen, would buy a 5th Gen, and don't really care for the mega-angular looks of the 6th Gens, but that's just personal preferrence.

 

The original article from Motorcycle.com praises the 5th gen VFR. I got my 5th gen about a month ago, have put over 1500 miles on it, and love it. Probably my favorite bike I've owned yet. Granted that may not be as many bikes as others on here, but I think it's number 9. Is that a lucky number somewhere?

 

What a great review that supprisingly haven't read before.

Agree with most of his opinions and reading multiple reviews boldly stateing the VFR (Gen 5 in particular) as the best motorcycle on the Planet helped me choose the VFR as my machine to replace my SV650S at '03's end.

The only areas I differ are always use Semi Synthetic Motul 5100, don't rest on the tank bag, haven't tinkered with lighting and not so sure about the sex bit.

 

I have owned them both and I would say that it is a draw. I'd buy which ever one comes up first. That is something that's in great shape for a great price.

 

The Sixth Lord speaketh

......you will be assimilated.....

(heavy breathing sounds)



(yeah, it's a mixed Sci-Fi metaphor, but whaddya expect for Sat. Morning )

 

5th verus 6th Gen

I have both (98 and 2003) and my favorite one is the one I am sitting on. Of the two bikes, I consider the 98 to be a better sport bike and the 2003 to be a better touring bike. The 98 has more low speed maneuverability and the 2003 has better high speed smoothness. There both the same in one regard; when I get of the bike and walk away, I always look back at the bike and think "damn that is a nice rid."

 

A very nice review, thanks for the link. I'm looking at a yellow 2000 VFR this weekend.

 

For $21 here you can get tons articles on most any bike, I bought the one for the 5th gen and read it several times before buying my bike. It's well worth it. Also got a couple others for friends and they were thrilled.
Honda VFR800 1998-2001 Motorcycle Report Test Review Article Reprint Service

 

I know you posted this a loong time ago John, but it struck me as quite a coincidence that I, a fellow Aussie, also sold his '03 SV650S and bought a '98 5th Gen' VFR (mine's yellow) - albeit I have only just done so. Best thing I ever did (well, apart form marrying my wife....er, maybe that's the sex thing creeping back in again....). Trust you're still enjoying the viffer.

Bronzey57

 

Aaah..the best colour in my opinion....goes particularly well with the black wheels. Now, how 'bout a black exhaust....

 

I`m in love with my 5th gen!
Only trouble is--
It has done only 8500 miles from new and is unmarked, i don`t want to make it a high milage hack.
Thing is-- do i buy a old 5th gen and ride it to death and keep mine polished to just look at and keep the milage low to keep it`s original state,or just ride it???

 

Just ride it, it isn't an NR750, or RC30.
But take care of it.
Mine had under 13k two years ago, now I have 33k and don't regret one mile.
I can't wait to hit 50k.. maybe 100k. lol

 

6th gen.

2003 Honda VFR 800 VTEC motorcycle review: Forbidden love affair.

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/features/2002_honda_vfr_800_interceptor/index.html

 

I love my 6th gen, but if I were to go back, I think I'd try to find a 5th gen. They should be a few grand less, pretty much the same except for VTEC and some cosmetic things, and the sound of those gear driven cams is amazing...

 

It wont matter which one you get as you'll be wearing a huge grin each time you ride it!! What good is a great bike when your not on it. I am currently on my seventh VFR, (x2 750's, x2 5th gen, 3rd x6th gen) I have averaged in excess of 35,000 km (20,000 miles) a year for each of them. My 02 v-tec has 235,000 km (140,000+ miles) and still puts a huge grin on me each time i ride it. My 08 v-tec is probably the smoothest and most capable bike i have riden, in fact it is more capable than i am. I will probably exceed 40,000 km on it by the end of October.
I guess that what i am trying to say is that it won't really matter which one you choose, you will not be disappointed. Both models will give you mile after mile of enjoyment.
Regards Smithy.

 

Ride it!!The high mileage isn't an issue with these bikes. If you're passionate about the bike, you'll take care of it. I bought my '98 model used, from someone who had looked after it well. It has 45,000kms on the clock and some people get confused when they look at it because they know the model was discontinued 6 or so years ago and yet the bike looks new...